THE following is the text of a statement issued yesterday by Independent Newspapers in response to a report in The Irish Times on Saturday that the Rainbow Coalition was told it would lose the newspaper group "as friends" if it did not act against TV deflector operators:
There have been a number of inaccuracies in the reporting of a meeting between representatives of Independent Newspapers and a representative of the Government reported in Saturday's Irish Times.
In particular a quotation regarding election coverage was falsely attributed to the representative of Independent Newspapers.
This statement was never made nor the threats contained within it ever implied. At no time during the meeting was editorial policy in relation to the election discussed.
Editorial policy is a matter for editors, not for senior executives.
As a commercial organisation Independent Newspapers, together with all other organisations and individuals, has a legitimate right to meet with government representatives and to encourage them to enforce the law.
Independent Newspapers through its associate Princes Holdings, is but one of a number of MMDS licence holders all of whom have encouraged the Government to enforce the law, including the State owned Cablelink.
Indeed, at the time of the meeting, Princes Holdings was enjoined with the Government in legal action against the illegal operators.
Regarding the specific reference in the article to `they would lose INP as friends', this quote must be read in the context of paragraph 5 of the minutes reproduced in the Irish Times article and indeed understood in the broader context of ongoing discussions between INP, Princes Holdings and successive ministers and their departments.
Independent Newspapers have consistently counselled its international partners against proceeding with legal action, despite the failure of the Government to enforce the exclusive licence. The minute simply clarifies that Independent Newspapers could no longer continue its friendly intermediary role and that legal action would now follow.
The Minister and his Department, who have taken legal action against the illegal operators, are aware that this legal action is in progress.
The minutes of the meeting were sent as a matter of record to the Taoiseach's office.